College Basketball "off-season" Thread (players leaving/coaching changes/recruiting)

Originally Posted by dreClark

Originally Posted by allen3xis

Who could forget a face like this?

071107mayben_300.jpg

Looking like Chris Davis from UCONN...
Naw fam looking like Chris Bridges haha. Ludacris
 
[h2]Summer 2008 Men's Certified Basketball Leagues[/h2]Updated: June 24, 2008

NCAA Division I student-athletes with remaining eligibility may participate in the following certified summer leagues only on the dates identified in the"Certified Dates" column. Leagues are listed in alphabetical order by the league name. All Division I players must limit their competition to oneteam in one league. If a student-athlete participates in a two-day activity those student-athletes cannot participate in any other organized basketballactivity for the duration of the summer.

Note: League certification DOES NOT permit NCAA Division I basketball coaching staff members to attend. Please consult the list of certified events toidentify those competitions that Division I coaches may attend.

Activity Name and Location

Certified Dates

Operator

Contact Information
2008 Annapolis Recreation Department Men's Summer Basketball League at Callahan Courts in Annapolis, Maryland
www.annapolis.gov/recreation
June 15 to August 13 (Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays)Sherry Whiteford410 263 7958
[email protected]
2008 Hank Gathers Memorial College League at Temple University's McGonigle Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
http://www.sonnyhillleague.org/
June 16 to August 8 (Monday through Friday)Brent Hill215 474 2801
[email protected]
2008 Verizon FiOS Jersey Shore Basketball League at St. Rose High School in Belmar, New JerseyJune 16 to August 5 (Monday thru Thursday)Ken O'Donnell732 223 0251
[email protected]
36th Annual Dustbowl Basketball Tournament at David S. Palmer Arena in Danville, Illinois
www.comaction.org
July 25-27Chantal Savage - Bryant217 554 9128
[email protected]
4-Point Play Basketball Pro Summer League at Tigard High School in Tigard, Oregon
http://www.4pointplay.net/
June 22 and 29; July 6, 13, 20 and 27; and August 3, 10, 17, 23 and 24Ne'Juan Thompson971 226 9005
[email protected]
AJR-Summer Basketball League at Highlands Ranch High School in Highlands Ranch, ColoradoJuly 10-20Robert Caton720 270 8202
[email protected]
Bay Pro-Am Summer League (men's) at Hillsborough Community College (Dale Mabry Campus) in Tampa, Florida
http://www.bayproamfla.com/
June 15 to August 31Haywoode Workman813 917 7367
[email protected]
Bluesteak Summer Basketball League at John Carroll University Rec Plex in University Height, OhioJune 25, 26 and 30; July 2, 7, 9, 15, 17, 22, 24, 28 and 30; and August 1Michael Zbiegien216 531 4319
[email protected]
Brewster Sports Center's Men's Summer Basketball League at Brewster Sports Center in Brewster, New York
http://www.brewstersportscenter.com/
June 17 to August 9 (Monday through Thursday)Al Morales, Jr.845 406 0130
[email protected]
Broadway Armory Summer Basketball League at Broadway Armory in Chicago, IllinoisJune 24 to August 15 (Monday through Friday)John Hodel773 477 8272
[email protected]
Buckeye Corner's Arlington Summer Basketball League at Upper Arlington High School in Upper Arlington, OhioJune 17 to July 21 (Tuesdays and Thursdays) and July 22, 23, 24, and 29Eddie Guice740 657 8474
[email protected]
Burgo Basketball Association, Inc. at Dartmouth's S.E. Regional Basketball Complex in Dartmouth, Massachusetts
http://www.bbabasketball.com/
June 21 to August 23 (Saturdays and Sundays)Steven Burgo508 993 7945
[email protected]
Ceciliaville Summer College League at Ceciliaville Activity Center in Detroit, Michigan
http://www.ceciliaville.com/
July 5, 6, 8, 12, 13,15, 19, 20, 22, 26 and 27;and August 5, 9 and 10Michael Smith248 543 4452
[email protected]
Central Blair Recreation Park Commission Men's Summer Basketball League at Mansion Park Basketball Courts in Altoona, Pennsylvania
http://www.cbrcparks.org/
June 16 to August 22 (Monday through Thursday)Stephen Sauers814 949 2231
[email protected]
Chicago Pro-Am National City Leagues at Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago, Illinois
http://www.chicagoproam.org/
July 12 to August 16 (Fridays, Saturdays Sundays)William Jones312 203 7643
[email protected]
City Ministry at Great Lakes Baptist Temple in Flint, MichiganJune 18 to July 30 (Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays)Deborah Stevens810 513 0745
[email protected]
City of Orlando Pro-Am/Bay Pro-Am at Dr. J.R. Smith Comunity Center in Orlando, FloridaJune 29 to August 31(Sundays, Mondays and Wednesdays) Alfredo Ortiz407 246 4290
[email protected]
Cleveland Summer Am-Pro Basketball League at Cleveland State University Woodling Gym in cleveland, OhioJune 27 and July 1, 2, 8, 10, 15, 17, 22, 24, 28, 29, 30 and 31Vance Marbury614 774 2423
[email protected]
Columbus Adult Basketball Association Summer League at The Hoop Sports Center in Columbus, Ohio
http://www.recsportsnetwork.com/
June 19 to August 29 (Mondays and Wednesdays)Bobby Walker614 774 3340
[email protected]
Connie Hawkins Men's Summer Basketball League at Club 4 Life in Monroeville, Pennsylvania

June 16 to August 15 (Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays)William Neal412 607 3697
[email protected]
The Courts 9th Annual Men's College Pro-am League at The Courts in Springfield, MissouriJune 18 and 25 and July 2, 9, 13, 16, 20, 23 and 30Chris Coskey417 831 3333
[email protected]
Crestmont Community Basketball League at Crestmont Playground in Willow Grove, PennsylvaniaJune 15 to August 10 (Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays)Barry Vaughn215 432 3177
[email protected]
Delaware County Pro-Am by Fidonce at Tri-State Sports Complex in Aston, Pennsylvania
http://www.recminder.com/
July 30 to August 13 (Sundays, Mondays and Wednesdays)Kevin Towns267 265 4859
[email protected]
Deveroes The League at Woodward High School in Cincinnati, Ohio
http://www.cincysportsworld.com/
June 15 to July 26 (Tuesdays, Saturdays and Sundays)Dennis Bettis513 371 4069
[email protected]
DFW College Summer League at Seagoville High School in Seagoville, Texas
http://www.eteamz.com/DFWSummerCollegeLeague/index.cfm?
June 29 to July 26 (Tuesdays and Thursdays)Grady Dale972 822 0032
[email protected]
Donnie Wilson Memorial Denver Pro-Am Summer Basketball League at Hiawatha Davis Recreation Center in Denver, ColoradoJune 16 to August 9 (Monday through Thursday and Saturdays)John Bailey720 629 0964
[email protected]
Dyckman Basketball Tournament at Monsignor Kett Playground in New York, New York
http://www.dyckmanpark.com/
July 3 to August 22 (Monday through Friday)Isaiah Brown917 681 1218
[email protected]
EKB H.S./J.C. Showcase at J.P. Stevens High School in Edison, New JerseyJuly 12Edward Butler973 678 6474
[email protected]
Entertainers Basketball Classic at Holcombe Rucker Memorial Park in New York, New York
http://www.ebcsports.com/
June 16 to August 21 (Monday thru Thursday)Gregory Marius212 862 2323
[email protected]
Game Time International Summer Pro Am League at Meridian High School in Meridian , Idaho
http://www.gametimeintl.com/
June 15 to August 1 (Tuesdays an Thursdays)Derrick Boles208 739 2404
[email protected]
The Get Better College Basketball League at Salesian High School in Los Angeles, CaliforniaJune 16, 18, 21-22 and 27-29; July 5-6, 11-13, 15, 17 and 26-27; and August 2-3 and 8-10Rico Cabrera II213 820 7846
[email protected]
GIAC Adult Summer Basketball League at Conway Park in Ithaca, New YorkJune 27 to August 15 (Monday through Wednesday)Courtney McGuire607 272 3622
[email protected]
Great Lakes Pro-Am at Great Lakes Athletic Club in Orion, MichiganJune 17 to July 30 (Tuesdays and Wednesdays)Jere Shockey248 391 6784
[email protected]
The Greater Hartford Pro Am Summer Basketball League at Lewis Fox Middle School in Hartford, Connecticut
http://www.ghpaonline.com/
July 9 to August 20 (Mondays, Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays)Kevin Kirksey860 883 8491
[email protected]
Hoop Dreemzzzz Summer League at Island Garden in West Hempstead, New YorkJuly 5 to August 18 (Monday through Friday)Karen Cluess516 476 6430
[email protected]
Hoops in the Sun Roundball Classic at Orchard Beach in Bronx, New York
http://www.hoopsinthesun.net/
June 15 to August 24 (Saturdays and Sundays)Randy Cruz212 427 1236
[email protected]
Howard Pulley Pro City at Salvation Army Community Center in St Paul, Minnesota
http://www.howardpulleybasketball.com/
June 19 to July 31 (Monday through Thursday)Turhen Pulley612 770 0309
[email protected]
Jewish Community Center NCAA Certified Men's Open Summer League at Jewish Community Center in Vestal, New YorkJune 26 To August 26 (Thursdays)Tom Foley607 724 2417
[email protected]
KC Pro Am at Penn Valley Community College in Kansas City, MissouriJune 20 to August 8 (Monday through Friday)Terry Nooner816 935 7641
[email protected]
Kennard Mens' Summer Basketball League at Kennard Park in Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaJune 29 to August 28 (Tuesdays Wednesdays and Thursdays)Reggie Smith412 321 1302
[email protected]
Las Vegas Pro-Am Basketball League at Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas, Nevada
http://www.lvproam.com/
July 12 to August 30 (Saturdays)John Shephard702 807 5554
[email protected]
Mayor's Night Hoop's (men's) at Hillcrest Community Center in Kansas City, MissouriJune 19 to August 3 (Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays)Vickie Shelton816 582 4947
[email protected]
MBNation Summer League at Southern Maine Sports Center in Saco, Maine
http://www.mbnation.org/
July 12 to July 31 (Tuesdays and Thursdays)Mike Woodbury207 649 1453
[email protected]
Metro Summer Basketball League at Omaha South High School in Omaha, NebraskaJune 19 to August 7 (Thursdays)Jason Isaacson402 250 9522
[email protected]
Michigan Basketball Association Boy's High School Summer Basketball League at Flint Central Academy High School in Flint, MichiganJune 20, 21, 22, 27, 28 and 29; July 11, 12, 13, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26 and 27Earl Jordan810 238 8831
[email protected]
Michigan Basketball Association Men's Summer Basketball League at Bentley High School in Burton, MichiganJune 19 to August 10 (Thursday through Sunday)Earl Jordan810 238 8831
[email protected]
Moneyball Pro Am Summer Basketball League at Everett High School in Lansing, Michigan
http://www.moneyballsportswear.com/
June 21 to August 10 (Saturdays and Sundays)Desmond Ferguson517 393 0763
[email protected]
Natural Talent Pro-Am League at Arlington High School in Indianapolis, Indiana
http://www.cjnaturaltalent.com/
June 15, 21,22, 28 and 29; July 5, 6, 12, 13, 19, 20, 26 and 27; and August 1-3Kevin Jones317 506 7197
[email protected]
Nike Houston Pro City Summer League at Fonde Community Center in Houston, TexasJuly 7 to August 13 (Monday and Wednesday)Kevin Granger832 524 3100
[email protected]
Nike Pro City College/Pro League at McDonough Arena in Washington, District of Columbia
http://www.gameplansports.net/
July 5 to August 10 (Saturday and Sunday)Van Johnson301 322 9784
[email protected]
Nike Pro City - NY Summer Basketball League at Hunter College in New York, New York

June 15 to August 7 (Tuesdays and Thursdays)Raymond Diaz718 969 6240
[email protected]
Pittsburgh Basketball Club College Summer League at Greentree Sportsplex in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
http://www.pittsburghbasketballclub.com/
June 23, 25 and 30; and July 2, 7, 9, 14, 16, 21, 22 and 23John Giammarco412 403 9086
[email protected]
Phoenix Summer Pro League at Phoenix Country Day School in Scottsdale , Arizona
http://www.phoenixspl.com/
June 15 to July 27 (Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays)Corey Williams520 304 3373
[email protected]
Prime Time Basketball League at North Liberty Community Center in North Liberty, Iowa
http://www.primetimeleague.com/
June 16 to July 23 (Mondays and Wednesdays)Randy Larson319 354 5500
[email protected]
Princeton Recreation Mens Summer Basketball League at Community Park outdoor courts in Princeton, New Jersey
http://www.princetonrecreation.com/
June 16 to August 8 (Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays)Ben Stentz609 921 9480
[email protected]
Raleigh Parks Recreation's Chavis Summer Basketball League at St. Augustine's College's Emory Gymnasium in Raleigh, North CarolinaJune 16 to August 15 (Monday thru Friday)Christopher Moore919 831 6378
[email protected]
RDV Sportsplex powered by the National Basketball Academy Men's League at RDV Sportsplex in Orlando, Florida
www.thebasketballacademy.com OR www.rdvsportsplex.com
June 24 to August 21 (Tuesdays and Thursdays)Joneshia Bethea407 916 2522
[email protected]
Rip City Adult Summer Basketball League at Chester Ash Memorial Park in Coatesville , PennsylvaniaJune 23 to August 23 (Monday through Thursday)Christena Hamilton610 384 1645
[email protected]
Rivercity Summer Pro-Am Basketball League at Cardinal Ritter Prep High School in St. Louis, MissouriJune 27 to August 4 (Friday, Saturday and Sunday)Noren Kirksey314 645 8706
[email protected]
Rocky Top Basketball League at Bearden High School in Knoxville, Tennessee
http://www.rockytopbasketballleague.com/
June 16 to July 2 (Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays)Andre Whitehead865 977 8177
[email protected]
The Rowan Barrett ProAm at Ryerson University in Toronto, Ontario, CanadaJuly 12 to July 31 (Tuesdays and Thursdays)Rowan Barrett416 717 4297
[email protected]
RPSA Men's Summer Basketball League at Christ the King High School in Middle Village, New York http://www.rpsabasketball.com/
June 15 to August 31(Monday- Thursday)Rob Schoemig917 951 4523 [email protected]
Rusty LaRue Basketball Academy Triad Pro-Am Summer League at Forsyth Country Day School in Lewisville, North Carolina
http://www.rustylarue.com/
July 7-10, 14-17, 21-24, 28-31; and August 1-2Rusty LaRue336 293 9174
[email protected]
San Francisco Bay Area Pro-Am Basketball League at Kezar Pavilion in San Francisco, California

June 16 to August 15 (Monday - Thursday)Jon Greenberg415 695 5009
[email protected]
Say No Classic Los Angeles (College open summer basketball league) at Hangar Athletic Xchange in Hawthorne, CaliforniaJune 21 to August 16 (Friday through Sunday)David Smith323 734 2405
[email protected]
Seacoast Hoops Summer Basketball League at HUB Athletic Center in South Portland, Maine

June 15 to August 6 (Wednesdays)Matthew Richards207 741 5927
[email protected]
SEBL Summer Pro Am Basketball League at JH Morgan Gym in Cartersville, GeorgiaJuly 7, 9, 10, 13, 14, 16, 17, 20, 21, 23, 24, 27, 30 and 31; August 3, 4, 6, 7, 9 and 10David Archer770 606 1832
[email protected]
SJG Greater NC Pro AM at McLendon-McDougald Gymnasium in Durham, North CarolinaJuly 8 to August 21 (Tuesdays and Thursdays) and August 25-28John Jones919 427 6335
[email protected]
Smithfield Summer Basketball League at CCRI Warwick in Warwick, Rhode IslandJuly 3, 10, 15, 17, 22, 24, 29 and 31; and August 5, 7, 12 and 14Steven Stanford401 241 0698
[email protected]
Sonny Parker Summer Basketball League at Homan Square Community Center in Chicago, Illinois
http://www.thesonnyparkeryouthfoundation.org/
June 16 to August 11 (Mondays and Saturdays)Sonny Parker312 822 3439
[email protected]
South Florida Pro Am Mentorship at Miami Dade College North Campus in Miami, Florida
http://www.arkcoalition.org/
June 22 to August 7 (Saturdays and Sundays)Darrell Brown786 417 8069
[email protected]
Sports and Fitness Edge Men's Summer Basketball League at Sports and Fitness Edge in Essex Jct, VermontJune 17 to August 21 (Tuesdays and Thursdays)Craig Revilla802 879 6904
[email protected]
Star Ledger College Summer League at College Ave. Gym/the BARN in New Brunswick, New Jersey
http://www.njhoops.com/
June 22 to July 31 (Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays)Jay Gomes908 812 3145
[email protected]
Summer Jam 2008 at Chatsworth High School in Chatsworth, CaliforniaJune 28 and 29; July 5, 6, 12, 13, 19, 20 and 26 and August 2, 3, 16 and 17David Wilson818 223 9829
[email protected]
Summer League Summer Hoops Where Legends are Made at West Mecklenburg High School in Charlotte, North CarolinaJune 19 to August 1 (Monday thru Friday)Arleen Watts704 968 3017
[email protected]
Taylorsville Pro-Am at Taylorsville Recreation Center in Taylorsville, Utah
http://www.activityreg.com/
June 26 to August 7 (Tuesdays and Thursdays)Taufik Hermansyah801 965 1732
[email protected]
Tennessee Capital City Pro-am at Whites Creek High School in nashville, Tennessee
June 15 to August 13 (Tuesday thru Sunday)David Brooks615 586 6039
[email protected]
Theodore D. Young Community Center Summer Basketball League at Theodore D. Young Community Center in Greenburgh, New YorkJuly 11 to August 19 (Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays)Boston Keith914 989 3649
[email protected]
Top Players Summer League at Joy of the Game Center in Deerfield, Illinois
http://www.joyofthegame.com/
July 3 to August 14 (Tuesdays and Thursdays)David Adelman847 498 6646
[email protected]
Tri-City Summer League at George Wythe High School in Richmond, VirginiaJune 24-26; and July 1-3, 8-10, 15-17, 22-24 and 28-31Theodore Berry804 276 5443
[email protected]
Tucson Summer Pro League at North West Community Center in Tucson, Arizona
http://www.tucsonspl.com/
June 15 to July 27 (Friday thru Sunday)Corey Williams520 304 3373
[email protected]
Walker/Ford Community Center Players League at Walker/Ford Community Center in Tallahassee, FloridaJune 25 to July 31 (Monday through Thursday)Joe Thomas850 891 3970
[email protected]
Wallace Prather, Jr. Pro Summer League at Adamsville Recreation Center in Atlanta, GeorgiaJuly 8 to August 16 (Tuesdays and Saturdays)Jennifer Prather404 241 7414
[email protected]
West Reading Summer Basketball League at West Reading Playground in West Reading, PennsylvaniaJune 25 to August 7 (Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays)Salvatore Raccuglia610 670 1252
[email protected]
Wilmington's 19th annual Battle of the weekend warriors Classic at John T. Hoggard High School in Wilmington, North Carolina
http://www.battleoftheweekendwarriors.com/
August 2-3Lonnie Payton910 791 6362
[email protected]
YMCA/Capitol City Men's Basketball League at Valley Southwoods Freshman High School in West Des Moines, IowaJune 13, 15, 18, 22, 25 and 27; July 2, 6, 9, 11 and 13Troy Skinner515 327 1222
[email protected]

 
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KyleWhelliston: (4:00 PM ET ) Hoops Nation, WAKE UP! My name is Kyle Whelliston, and I know it's hard to focus on mid-major American-stylecollege basketball with all the humidity, barbecues and bikini action going on. But we're all going to be back inside dissecting the bid races before youknow it, so let's bring out the mid-summer hot stove.

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Kyle Whelliston: (4:00 PM ET ) CAA! Valley!OVC! Whither and whereat, pray tell, are my dogs?


Timmy C. (Lancaster, PA): How good is Davidson next year? Could they win one from Duke or UNC early?

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Kyle Whelliston: (4:02 PM ET ) Davidson, ofcourse, isn't our little secret anymore. What'll be interesting in the early going is to see how they deal with losing Boris Meno and Thomas Sander upfront. Is Love(dale) the answer? Will freshman Frank Ben-Eze, at 6-10, contribute quickly? And how is this Curry-splitting-time at the point thing going towork? No matter how you slice it, nobody will be shocked if they win an ACC game later this year.


mike in morristown n.j.: the Drake Bulldogs had a dream year.....what will they do in the MVC this upcoming season? Can they come nearduplicating last year? Can they get an NCAA tourney bid??

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Kyle Whelliston: (4:03 PM ET ) I'veasked this before, but find me one person who saw that coming. Other than Keno Davis, that is. Not even the Drake diehards figured they'd be that good.I'm just flummoxed that Adam Emmenecker didn't get the same kind of love from the crusty old columnists who empty the "guts"/"grit"section of the thesaurus for David Eckstein. Anyway, I don't see Drake finishing any better than seventh, but that's what we all said last year too.


JW: Flora, IL: How is the upcoming recruiting class looking for Southern Illinois and how does it rank with the major programs.

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Kyle Whelliston: (4:05 PM ET ) I can'tspeak to any compare-and-contrast aspects when it comes to the high-majors, but I do know that getting an Illinois Mr. Basketball is big time. Not only isKevin Dillard a highly capable point, but he can do 20 different things on a drive to the hole. Along with PF Anthony Booker, that's a nice couple ofESPN150 freshman bookends. Several aeons beyond what any of the other MVC teams are bringing on.


Brian (Philly): Kyle how good are my St. Joe's Hawks going to be next year? Will they make a run at the A-10 like last year or slip backwith the losses of Calathes and Ferguson?

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Kyle Whelliston: (4:10 PM ET ) Those were apair of very special careers. But now we get to see Nivins take 10+ shots per game, and there's some young size coming in with Bryant Irwin and A.J.Rogers. They'll likely stay solid and fight Xavier and UMass in the upper tier.


Ian (Cincinnati): Tell me what you know about the new crop of recruits coming into Winthrop and how quickly they might be able to contribute.

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Kyle Whelliston: (4:11 PM ET ) To me, thestar of the class is Reggie Middleton, the new point guard. He's going to need to jump in quickly due of the graduation of Chris Gaynor, who deserves a tonof credit for making last year's team look a whole lot better than it really was. He had this samurai attitude that I just loved. And of course, this wasgoing to be De'Andre Adams' year to run point (R.I.P.). From everything I've seen and read, Middleton is what they need.


Tony (Rochester, MI): Love the chats! keep up the good work. Oakland Univserity seems to have quite the recruiting class (by OU standards), dothey have a bigger and brighter future on the horizon?

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Kyle Whelliston: (4:14 PM ET ) Thanks,Tony. I'd argue that Oakland has quickly become one of the class teams in the Badlands Conference, two winning records in a row, two straight years with10+ league wins and top-three tourney seeds. They just haven't been able to win the big one since the improbable '05 run. All the double-figure scorersare coming back while IUPUI and ORU are regrouping somewhat. This could be the year.


Steve (Newark, DE): Kyle - VCU really bummed me out when they fizzled last year. What's your prognosis for them in '08-'09?

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Kyle Whelliston: (4:15 PM ET ) I know someCAA fans think otherwise, but this is the best backcourt, best coach, best team in the league going into the season. And on top of that, if Coach Grant provedanything in his second year, it was that shortcomings could be swiftly and effectively shored up over an offseason -- I'm talking about the defense. Addthe motivation of that fizzle you mentioned... never bet against a team carrying shoulder chips.


ray GORDON REID JACKSONVILe fl 322O7: QUESTION TO KYLE WELLISTON AT 4.05 pm HI Kyle WHO ;S YOUR TOP TEN 2008/09

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Kyle Whelliston: (4:18 PM ET ) RGR!!That's a tough question. I think Rihanna, Usher and the Jonas Brothers will definitely be there, as well as the ubiquitous T-Pain. And never count outJay-Z... did you see what he did at Glastonbury last weekend? The man is a genius.


Wade (Findlay, Illinois): How do you see the Missouri Valley Confernce playing out this coming season? I'm hoping things get back tonormal (no offense to any teams) and we see SIU and Creighton battling for the title again.

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Kyle Whelliston: (4:19 PM ET ) Ha! Justremember 10 years ago, having Illinois State at the top was normal too. Holy crap, that's a pun. I think that's a team on a mission, MVP candidateOsiris Eldridge and lots of seniors with serious experience.

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Kyle Whelliston: (4:19 PM ET ) ButCreighton is going to be monstrous. Last year, you saw every last player on the floor by the second media time out -- and they won 22 games! There's goingto be so much competition for playing time, I think Creighton practices on pay-per-view might be a saleable product.


Steve (Chicago): As a Bobcat alum, I was excited to see the hiring of Groce. I think OU caught a break with O'Shea leaving. OU has a lotin common with traditional Mid-major powers (recruiting base, arena, etc.) like SIU, Creighton, Kent, etc. and I am continually annoyed that they haven'tconsistently been at that level. Your thoughts on the Groce hire and what he can bring to OU? Thanks.

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Kyle Whelliston: (4:23 PM ET ) I think weall know that Coach O'Shea has pined for a different challenge for a while now, and he's going to be great for Bryant as they move up to D-I. As forJohn Groce, he's an absolute strategy whiz who's very sensitive to his personnel, instead of trying to shoehorn players into his preferred system.Players are going to love playing for him, and the word is going to get out to the prep level.


Jacob Sartin, Marion IL: With the Salukis having the most highly touted freshman class in the history in the MVC, let alone the country, I canalready feel the electricity with fellow dawg fans! Do you think SIU's scheduling helps or hurts their chances of dancing in March this year and the futurewith Lowery at the healm?

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Kyle Whelliston: (4:25 PM ET ) I'd warnagainst irrational exuberance for 2009, although it's going to be a fun year... losing all that frontcourt scoring will take some adjustments, especiallywith a tough early-season sked. Unless Anthony Booker can jump in quickly, there's going to be a lot of pressure on Tony Boyle and Carlton Fay tosignificantly improve beyond previous performance. And then they get Tony Freeman and his 13 points per game from Iowa next season. 2010 looks like the yearthey go for April. Stay electric, Jacob.


Anthony from Boston: The Siena Saints have put together a killer nonconference schedule for the upcoming year. What are your thoughts aboutthe Saints cracking the top 25?

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Kyle Whelliston: (4:28 PM ET ) Kansas (withno returning starters), the Old Spice Classic, Saint Joe's... the Saints have every opportunity to make a big splash and get on the map. The Siena folksand I have had our history (cheerleader booing-Gate, coach's wife-Gate), but I hope they don't mind me coming over a lot more this year. I can'tbelieve how young this team still is, this could go on for another two years easy. Having the MAAC tourney in town was a huge homecourt advantage (all thoseboxes of foam fingers!), and they get to do it at the Pepsi Times Knickerbocker-torium again next March.

rad (NJ): NEC love!! How good is FDU going to be this year?? Any chance on them or anyone from this league turning the corner and knocking ofsomeone in the NCAAs?

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Kyle Whelliston: (4:33 PM ET ) FDU is kindof a tough sell, lots of barely-tested freshmen coming back and a huge scoring vacuum with the loss of Manny Ubilla. Think of this as a foundation year. Ithink there's a Central Connecticut-Mount St. Mary's-Quinnipiac race brewing for 08-09.


Joe(Reno, Nevada): Kyle, You thoughts on the Nevada Wolf Pack this next season? Very very inexperienced in the front court, but someintriguing talent coming in with top 100s Luke Babbit, Mark McLaughilin and Indiana transfer Joey Shaw. Thank you. P.S. Dont forget the tire chains when youcome out this winter.

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Kyle Whelliston: (4:35 PM ET ) I spent somuch on those gold-plated things last winter, I should wear them around. The WAC as a whole is a tough read this far out: NMSU lost a lot of size, Utah Stateand Boise State seemed to have chosen to spackle with juco's, and Nevada is doing its annual pick-up-the-pieces act after the NBA Draft. But there's noway this league is going to be as bad as it was last year. I'm guessing Nevada and NMSU for the bids based on superior talent, with leaps-and-boundsimprovements at Idaho and San Jose State.

..
Siena can beat Kansas early in the season. Seriously.

I was unaware Davidson landed that Ben Eze kid ( the Harvard - Amaker debacle)

Maynor better KILL this year in the Colonial...
 
Mentally clicking through the basketball rolodex built into his head, Rick Pitino summoned the perfect game analogy to define Travis Ford.

The year was 1993; the setting, New Orleans; the game, a national semifinal against Michigan.

Knocked out in practice two days earlier after colliding with Tony Delk and ceding eight inches to the Wolverines' Jimmy King, Ford went without abucket in the first half.

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[h3]Maybe right now he doesn't have the rÃ[emoji]169[/emoji]sumÃ[emoji]169[/emoji] of some other coaches in the Big East, ACC or Big 12, but in three years you don't think he's going to be one of the top young coaches in the country? It's like judging an athlete. You're not looking for right away but down the road.
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--Rick Pitino on Travis Ford

Yet when both the game and Ford were on the line, Pitino didn't even watch.

"Travis needed to hit the free throws to send the game into overtime," Pitino remembered. "I looked at my assistant and said, 'Get readyfor overtime. He's not missing.' Pressure doesn't mean anything to Travis. It doesn't affect him."

A whirling dervish with a three-Red-Bulls-a-day habit, Ford will need all of that game-on-the-line calm now. He has landed in the soup, moving intoStillwater, Okla., where the university's attitude belies its serene-sounding location.

Oklahoma State, Ford's new employer, has been more "churning cyclone" than "still water."

In April, the university gave the hook to Sean Sutton despite a $2.2 million buyout, a 39-29 record in two seasons and a last name that once was revered innorth-central Oklahoma.

Before the press conference to announce Sutton's dismissal had ended, the school, with billionaire alum T. Boone Pickens' bottomless wallet servingas the come-on, started winking and smiling at Bill Self.

OSU's crush went unrequited when Self re-upped at Kansas.

Two weeks later, the Cowboys hired Ford.

The general consensus? The university swung for the fences with a guy who just won a national championship before settling on a guy who just finished asrunner-up in the NIT.

"Hey, if I was an A.D., I'd go after Bill Self, too," Ford said.

Not too long ago, Bill Self wasn't Bill Self. Heck, until Jason Richards missed a 3-pointer to deny Davidson's upset in the Elite Eight, Self wasthe guy who couldn't get to the Final Four.

In 1996, Florida A.D. Jeremy Foley took a chance on a young guy from Marshall who had never coached a game in the NCAA tournament.

Four years later Florida played for a national title, and in 2006, Billy Donovan won his first of back-to-back national championships.

The point being, if Oklahoma State can return the stillness to its waters, it might just find satisfaction with the young Ford.

"They have no idea what they're getting," Pitino said. "He's not a household name, so they don't understand what they'regetting. Maybe right now he doesn't have the rÃ[emoji]169[/emoji]sumÃ[emoji]169[/emoji] of some other coaches in the Big East, ACC or Big 12, but in three years you don't think he'sgoing to be one of the top young coaches in the country? It's like judging an athlete. You're not looking for right away but down the road."

The road Ford has been traveling is basketball's autobahn: He's been speed-racing up the game's hierarchical ladder, bypassing the traditionalsteps. A decade ago, the man now in charge of a team in one of the most well-greased athletic departments in the country (Pickens has donated $165 million tothe Cowboys) was more likely to be handling Pickens' money than his basketball passion.

Adored for his pint-sized chutzpah and assassin's aim on 3-pointers, Ford was a Kentucky darling who parlayed his hoops fame into his pick of lucrativejob offers. Figuring the juice on Wall Street would mimic the adrenaline rush of a game, he took the Series 7 exam to become a stockbroker.

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Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images

Travis Ford's gritty play made quite an impression on then-coach Rick Pitino.

His father, Eddie, a basketball lifer who once coached Murray State, was thrilled. He raised Travis in the game, putting him on planes for cross-countrytournaments and feeding their mutual passion. They gleefully wore basketball blinders, bonding over roundball and forgetting some of the other traditionalfather-son teachings. To this day Eddie swears Travis can't change a tire or car battery.

But as proud as he was to raise a Wildcat, Eddie knew well the stress and pressure that basketball could generate. And as much as Travis never seemedtroubled by such stuff -- "I actually kind of thrive off stress," he said -- his father thought it wouldn't be a bad thing for his son to choosea different route.

"Once he got to work at a firm, he realized he was sitting behind a desk," Eddie Ford laughed. "I knew he could never sit behind adesk."

Ford's beloved stature, coupled with Pitino's endorsement -- which in Kentucky basketball is akin to the laying of hands -- was enough for tinyCampbellsville University to hire Ford without a lick of coaching experience. Ford was 26 years old and Campbellsville was just a combined 31-26 its previoustwo years.

By the time he left three years later, the Tigers were 23-11 and in the NAIA tournament.

"I liked the experience he had in his first job; he started at rock bottom," said Oklahoma State athletic director Mike Holder. "That reallyimpressed me."

From Campbellsville, Ford's career is a perfectly choreographed climb up the coaching ladder. He parlayed his NAIA success into a mid-major reclamationproject at Eastern Kentucky. After taking EKU to the peak -- its first NCAA tournament game in 25 years -- he jetted to UMass, where the glory days under JohnCalipari were a distant memory.

Ford fixed the Minutemen, just like he resurrected Campbellsville and Eastern Kentucky. UMass won the Atlantic 10 regular-season title in 2007 and followedthat up with an NIT title-game appearance in 2008.

No matter how perfectly the stepping stones seem to have aligned, Ford insists there was no calculated grand plan. If there was, he wouldn't have turneddown Providence, like he did in April. Providence was the logical next step, from Atlantic 10 to Big East, but it also was too close to Amherst, tooawkward.

"I'm not a long-range goal guy," he said. "I'm a guy who believes if you start looking ahead and not taking care of today, you'rein trouble. Even with my team, I don't do that. People set goals of making the NCAA tournament, the Final Four. Well, sure, we all want to do that, but Iset goals for games. A lot of people think I'm crazy, but that to me is what you can manage."

Managing Oklahoma State will be a tougher animal: better conference, bigger school, higher stakes. The Cowboys might like to say they have reasonableexpectations, but when Sutton was dismissed, Holder said at the time, "He knew what the expectations were when he took the job. He thought he would besuccessful, as did I."

Sutton went 17-16 in his final season -- not great, but not exactly an abject failure.

So where does that leave Ford? He has a fan base still feeling rebuked by Self, a wealthy alum looking for a return on his investment and his own $9.1million premium on winning (Ford's salary over seven years).

"Pressure is a fact of life," Holder said. "Not only in coaching, but in any profession in this country. Our country is competitive bynature."

Ford said he met Pickens and swears the millionaire is just a richer version of your typical fan. "You hear about him running the place," Fordsaid. "That's not true. He just loves this place."

Ford also talked to Sutton. The ex-coach called his replacement on the day of Ford's press conference. Ford didn't ask what happened or why (sayingit wasn't his place to get in the middle of it), but that Sutton merely called to offer help.

It all sounds cordial and polite, but this isn't Campbellsville, Eastern Kentucky or UMass. People don't want building blocks. They want results,and they want a man with the stomach to shoulder their expectations.

Back inside Pitino's mental library, the Louisville coach conjures up another perfect analogy to prove that Ford is that man.

The year was 2006; the setting, Louisville; the game, an ordinary regular-season matchup pitting pupil against mentor.

"He came into Freedom Hall and you know, Travis always gives me more credit than I probably deserve," Pitino said. "It was all, 'No sir,yes sir, thank you Coach.' Then he stepped between the lines and forget all that.

"He kicked my $%%. He just kicked my $%%."
 
Yeahhhhhhhhhhh buddy! This means Gaddy will probably recommit to Arizona as well since they are good friends and may even bring Avery Bradley...


MikeMoser commits to Arizona
[h1]Mike Moser commits to Arizona[/h1]
Josh Gershon
GOAZCATS.com Senior Editor

Talk about it in Premium Hoops Suite: Inside McKale
Arizona received its second 2009 commitment on Tuesday and it was another big one, as 6-foot-8, 200-pound Portland Grant forward Mike Moser gave the UA coaches a verbal pledge.

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Mike Moser is headed to Arizona.
Moser had offers and interest from several of the top schools in the country, but after leaning towards the UA forquite some time, he finally pulled the trigger.

"I called up coach (Lute) Olson and let him know that Arizona is exactly where I wanted to be," Moser said. "He was definitelyecstatic. I was their number one choice and they're my number one choice so there was no reason to go anywhere else but that."

After calling Olson, Moser got in touch with his lead recruiter, Russ Pennell, to tell him the news.

"I talked to coach Pennell right after I talked to coach Olson and he was just as pumped," Moser said. "They just let me know what it'sgoing to be like for the next four years and that I made the right decision."

Moser said that the reason for choosing Arizona had a lot to do with his confidence in the UA coaching staff.

"It's a great coaching situation with coach Olson being known for putting so many guards and wings in the league," Moser said. "That's abig thing for me being a wing myself. I just think the situation at Arizona is the best fit for me, period."

In recent weeks, Moser had been close to committing and finally he decided it was time to go ahead and do it.

"If they're my number one and I know what I want, what's the point in waiting?" he asked.

Moser doesn't plan on coming to Arizona alone, as he plans on trying to bring along his close friends Abdul Gaddy and Avery Bradley.

"They're my brothers and I'm definitely going to work on them," Moser said. "I'll tell them whatever it takes to get them, whateverit takes. "

Like most recruits who commit to Arizona, Moser has lofty goals that he wants to accomplish.

"My goals at Arizona are to come in and I definitely want to win a championship," he said.

GOAZCATS.com will have much more on Mike Moser's commitment shortly.
 
LOS ANGELES -- UCLA coach Ben Howland, who has guided the Bruins to the Final Four each of the past three years, agreed to a new seven-year contract withthe university Tuesday.

The deal, which adds one year onto the agreement he signed last October, runs through the 2014-15 season and includes a guaranteed $1.97 million for nextseason, rising to $2.3 million in the final year of the contract. The incentive package from his previous agreement, a maximum of $235,000, is retained in thenew contract.

His previous contract guaranteed compensation of $1.5 million for the 2007-08 season and a boost to $2 million in the final year. He earned $1.2 million forthe 2006-07 season.

"I have said this before, but there is no place I would rather be coaching than UCLA," Howland said. "I grew up a Bruin basketball fan andthis is my dream job.

"UCLA is a special name in college basketball thanks to coach [John] Wooden and I am proud to be the caretaker of his program," Howland said.

Although the Bruins have been to the Final Four the last three years, one of only four schools ever to accomplish that, they have yet to win an NCAA titleunder Howland. This year, they lost to Memphis in the national semifinals.

The 51-year-old Howland took the Bruins to a school record for wins on their way to a 35-4 record last season, and they won their third straight Pac-10title.

That made Howland the first coach since Wooden to produce three conference champions in a row. UCLA has also won two of the past three Pac-10 postseasontournaments.

Howland, who turned around programs at Northern Arizona and Pittsburgh, went 11-17 in 2003-04, his first season at UCLA. The Bruins improved to 18-11 thefollowing season and then were 32-7 in 2005-06.

"Ben Howland and UCLA are a great combination," UCLA athletic director Dan Guerrero said. "Ben is at the top of his profession and isdeserving of this commitment by the university.

"He has returned UCLA to the nation's elite, as illustrated by three straight Final Fours and three consecutive 30-win seasons. ... The foundationBen has built for our program promises to keep us at the forefront for the foreseeable future," Guerrero said.

Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press

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I want him in the NBA..
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new top 150

9 RankPosHt/WtSchools
1John Wall
Raleigh (NC) Word Of God Christian Academy
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JOHNWALL6_12100.JPG
Blazingly fast with the basketball, Wall is an impeccable ball handler with court savvy. The right hander has a penchant for beating defenders with his left hand and can then counter with a terrific left to right behind the back dribble. Finding teammates on the move is his forte, but he is also an excellent finisher at the rim. His jumper is still a work in progress, but it is good enough to keep the defense honest.
2Xavier Henry
Oklahoma City (OK) Putnam City
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G6-6/210list

Sweet shooting lefty also has size.
3Derrick Favors
Atlanta (GA) South Atlanta
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F6-9/220list

Skilled post player with soft touch.
4Renardo Sidney
Los Angeles (CA) Fairfax
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F6-10/230list

Good in both the high post and the low post.
5John Henson
Round Rock (TX) Round Rock
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F6-10/200North Carolina

Developing prospect has lots of upside.
6DeMarcus Cousins
Mobile (AL) LeFlore
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C6-9/250UAB

Power forward with top notch inside/outside skills.
7Lance Stephenson
Brooklyn (NY) Lincoln
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G6-5/195list

Physical guard who plays with an aggressive attitude.
8Kenny Boynton
Plantation (FL) American Heritage School
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G6-2/187list

Compact scorer has a more than reliable pull up jumper.
9Milton Jennings
Summerville (SC) Pinewood Prep
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F6-9/200Clemson

A serious inside/outside scoring threat.
10Daniel Orton
Oklahoma City (OK) Bishop McGuinness
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C6-10/260list

Long big man who is good in both the high post and low post.
11Dominic Cheek
Jersey City (NJ) St. Anthony
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G6-5/170list

Dead-eye shooter with ball handling skills.
12Jordan Hamilton
Los Angeles (CA) Dominguez
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F6-7/210list

Point forward who excels at leading the break.
13Latavious Williams
Camp Springs (MD) Progressive Christian
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F6-7/195list

Ultra-athletic forward with a high ceiling.
14Abdul Gaddy
Tacoma (WA) Bellarmine Prep
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G6-3/170list

Rangy point guard with a great feel for the game.
15Dexter Strickland
Elizabeth (NJ) St. Patrick
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G6-3/175North Carolina

Great feel for the game and even better scorer.
16Avery Bradley
Tacoma (WA) Bellarmine Prep
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G6-3/175list

A big time scoring threat from the off guard position.
17Ryan Kelly
Raleigh (NC) Ravenscroft School
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F6-9/205list

Finesse forward with dangerous face up game.
18Royce White
Hopkins (MN) Hopkins
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F6-7/210Minnesota

A multi-dimensional forward with a surprisingly polished game.
19Maalik Wayns
Philadelphia (PA) Roman Catholic
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G6-1/190Villanova

Tough, physical point guard in the Philly mold.
20Cory Jefferson
Killeen (TX) Killeen
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F6-8/180Baylor

Talented shot blocker and rebounder.
21Alex Oriakhi
Tilton (NH) Tilton School
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C6-8/220Connecticut

Athletic power forward who can go and get the ball.
22Wally Judge
Jacksonville (FL) Arlington Country Day
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F6-9/218Kansas State

Intriguing forward who can own the boards.
23Dante Taylor
Fort Washington (MD) National Christian Academy
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F6-8/230list

A raw talent with great upside.
24Jon Hood
Madisonville (KY) Madisonville North Hopkins
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G6-6/185Kentucky

Multi-skilled guard with size.
25Mason Plumlee
Arden (NC) Christ School
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F6-10/205Duke

Skilled big man who creates mismatches.
26Keith Gallon
Mouth of Wilson (VA) Oak Hill Academy
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C6-8/290list

Big-bodied post has good feet and hands.
27Solomon Hill
Los Angeles (CA) Fairfax
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F6-6/195list

Versatile forward with a good feel for the game.
28Rodney Williams
New Hope (MN) Robbinsdale Cooper Sr.
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G6-5/180list

Extremely athletic player with improving perimeter game.
29Reeves Nelson
Modesto (CA) Modesto Christian
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F6-7/215UCLA

Athletic and super-strong combo forward.
30Mfon Udofia
Stone Mountain (GA) Miller Grove
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G6-2/180list

Competitive point guard can score and run a team.
31Peyton Siva
Seattle (WA) Franklin
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G5-11/165Louisville

A great shooter with athleticism.
32John Jenkins
Gallatin (TN) Station Camp
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G6-4/175Vanderbilt

Big time shooting threat.
33Mouptaou Tarou
Woodstock (VA) Massanutten Military Academy
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F6-9/210list

Physical post player with developing skill game.
34Elijah Johnson
Las Vegas (NV) Cheyenne
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G6-2/183list

Athletic, slashing point guard.
35Greg Smith
Fresno (CA) Edison
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C6-8/220Arizona

Developing post player with a strong physique.
36Noel Johnson
Fayetteville (GA) Fayette County
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F6-7/180list

Wing guard with good size and excellent jumper.
37Lorenzo Brown
Alpharetta (GA) Centennial
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G6-4/175list

Smooth guard who can make plays.
38Karron Johnson
Durham (NC) Mt. Zion
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F6-7/210list

Possesses an intriguing combination of size and skills.
39Rakeem Buckles
Miami (FL) Pace
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F6-8/205Louisville

Versatile forward in the process of putting his game together.
40Christian Watford
Birmingham (AL) Shades Valley
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F6-7/215list

Long, rangy wing forward who can score the basketball.
41Aaric Murray
Concordeville (PA) Glen Mills
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C6-10/230list

Lengthy post player with skill.
42Jeronne Maymon
Madison (WI) Madison Memorial
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F6-6/235Marquette

Point forward with a physical edge.
43Isaiah Armwood
Baltimore (MD) Montrose Christian
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F6-7/178list

Raw athletic power forward with a great upside.
44Nolan Dennis
North Richland Hills (TX) Richland
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G6-5/185list

Lengthy guard who is good with the ball.
45Zeke Marshall
McKeesport (PA) McKeesport
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C6-11/210Akron

Developing center has a lot of potential.
46Glen Rice
Marietta (GA) Walton
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G6-4/175list

A skilled prospect with size as a shooting guard.
47Michael Snaer
Moreno Valley (CA) Rancho Verde
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G6-4/185list

Athletic shooting guard has a complete game.
48Terrence Boyd
Norman (OK) Norman
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F6-5/225list

Power guard who loves to attack the rim.
49Kenny Hall
Stone Mountain (GA) Redan
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F6-8/215Tennessee

Mobile post prospect with bright future.
50Hollis Thompson
Los Angeles (CA) Loyola
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F6-6/180Georgetown

Rangy athlete with a skilled game.
51Durand Scott
New York (NY) Rice
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G6-4/180list

Crafty scoring guard with a knack for getting the ball in the hole.
52Brandon Paul
Gurnee (IL) Warren Township
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G6-2/175Illinois

Bouncy guard who attacks the rim.
53Trent Lockett
Minnetonka (MN) Hopkins
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G6-5/195Arizona State

Versatile perimeter player.
54Garrick Sherman
Kenton (OH) Kenton
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C6-10/220Michigan State

Highly skilled post player.
55Leslie McDonald
Memphis (TN) Briarcrest Christian
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G6-4/195North Carolina

Do everything guard has a feel for the game.
56Marshawn Powell
Crozet (VA) Miller School
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F6-6/230Arkansas

Highly productive combo forward.
57Jamal Coombs
Tilton (NH) Tilton School
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F6-6/Connecticut

Active forward with versatility.
58Lamar Patterson
Newark (NJ) St. Benedict's Prep
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G6-5/220Pittsburgh

Skilled, big-bodied guard.
59Richard Howell
Marietta (GA) Wheeler
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F6-7/215list

Versatile forward with skills inside and out.
60Jamil Wilson
Racine (WI) Horlick
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F6-7/211list

Long, versatile and skilled wing prospect.
61Ari Stewart
Marietta (GA) Wheeler
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F6-7/190list

Skilled wing can put it on the floor and shoot the three.
62David Wear
Santa Ana (CA) Mater Dei
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F6-9/190North Carolina

Forward with inside/outside capabilities.
63Travis Wear
Santa Ana (CA) Mater Dei
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F6-9/190North Carolina

Forward with inside/outside capabilities
64Terrell Vinson
Rockville (MD) Montrose Christian
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F6-5/190list

Prototypical small forward with a solid all around game.
65Tristan Spurlock
Rockville (MD) Montrose Christian
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F6-6/216list

Wing prospect can do damage inside and outside.
66Jared Cunningham
San Leandro (CA) San Leandro
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G6-3/170Arizona State

Point guard with a mature game.
67Anthony Marshall
Las Vegas (NV) Mojave
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G6-3/185list

A versatile left handed guard.
68Brendan Lane
Rocklin (CA) Rocklin
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F6-9/200UCLA

Intriguing forward with a sweet shooting stroke.
69Erik Murphy
Southborough (MA) St. Mark's
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F6-10/220Florida

Fundamentally sound big man who produces.
70Darius Morris
Los Angeles (CA) Windward
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G6-3/175list

Point guard with a strong all around game.
71Roberto Nelson
Santa Barbara (CA) Santa Barbara
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G6-4/190list

Sturdy shooting guard with a smooth shot.
72Tommy Mason-Griffin
Houston (TX) Madison
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G5-10/list

Strong guard who can put up points.
73Eric Bledsoe
Birmingham (AL) Hayes
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G6-0/160list

Heady guard with a feel for the game.
74.J. Richardson
Peoria (IL) Peoria
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G6-3/170Illinois

A multi-skilled shooting guard.
75Andre Malone
Riverdale (GA) North Clayton
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G6-4/195Auburn

Strong wing with shooting touch.
76Roger Franklin
Duncanville (TX) Duncanville
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Productive forward with inside/outside game.
77Shawn Williams
Duncanville (TX) Duncanville
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A sharp shooting wing player with size.
78Ferrakohn Hall
Memphis (TN) White Station
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Rangy forward with a lot of upside.
79Rodney McGruder
Washington (DC) Archbishop Carroll
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G6-4/195Kansas State

Dynamic player especially in the open court.
80Darius Smith
Chicago (IL) Marshall
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G6-1/170list

Defensive minded point guard with strong floor game.
81Joseph Bertrand
Sterling (IL) Sterling
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G6-4/170Illinois

Smooth with the ball in the backcourt.
82Thomas Robinson
Upper Marlboro (MD) Riverdale Baptist
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F6-8/210list

No nonsense, burly post man.
83Shawn Kemp
Canton (GA) Cherokee
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Athletic forward with upside.
84Reger Dowell
Duncanville (TX) Duncanville
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G6-1/170Alabama

Physical guard who can run a team.
85Mike Moser
Portland (OR) Grant
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Inruiging forward with length and versatility.
86Diamond Taylor
Westchester (IL) St. Joseph's
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G6-3/170Wisconsin

Versatile, skilled guard.
87.J. Byrd
Crawfordsville (IN) North Montgomery
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G6-4/195Purdue

Shooting guard with size and a soft touch.
88Kevin Parrom
South Kent (CT) South Kent
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Strong-bodied combo forward.
89Victor Rudd
Van Nuys (CA) Van Nuys
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Small forward with size and shooting ability.
90Demetrius Walker
San Juan Capistrano (CA) Jserra Catholic
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Physical specimen on the wing.
91Reginald Buckner
Memphis (TN) Manassas
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Hybrid forward with strong ball skills.
92Nick Russell
Arlington (TX) Grace Prep
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G6-4/180list

Combo forward with size.
93Dane Miller
Rochester (NY) Rush Henrietta
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F6-5/180Rutgers

Talented wing who can play multiple positions.
94Erik Williams
Cypress (TX) Cypress Springs
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F6-6/190Marquette

Bouncy wing with a developing skill game.
95Deshawn Painter
Norfolk (VA) Booker T. Washington
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C6-9/210Florida

An athletic presence inside.
96Derek Elston
Tipton (IN) Tipton
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F6-8/212Indiana

Effective rebounder with a skilled game.
97Johnnie Lacy
Milwaukee (WI) Bay View
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Waterbug guard who puts up big numbers.
98Kourtney Roberson
Arcadia (LA) Arcadia
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F6-9/215Texas A&M

Physical athlete with developing skill game.
99Steven Pledger
Chesapeake (VA) Atlantic Shores Christian
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G6-3/185Oklahoma

Great shooter and strong defender.
100Michael Dixon
Kansas City (MO) Lee's Summit West
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Solid point guard who can score.
101Carlos Lopez
Henderson (NV) Findlay Prep
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F6-9/200UNLV

Skilled big man with Euro-style game.
102C.J. Wilcox
Pleasant Grove (UT) Pleasant Grove
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G6-6/170Washington

Long and athletic wing.
103Tevin Baskin
Stamford (CT) Trinity Catholic
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Wing prospect who loves to attack the basket.
104Devin Booker
Union (SC)
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F6-7/220Clemson

Physical rebounder and shot blocker.
105Xavier Thames
Elk Grove (CA) Pleasant Grove
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G6-3/177Washington State

A smart point guard with quality size.
106Lakeem Jackson
Arden (NC) Christ School
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Physically imposing slasher.
107Tyler Haws
Highland (UT) Lone Peak
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Intelligent guard with an all around game.
108Brian Oliver
Mouth of Wilson (VA) Oak Hill Academy
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F6-6/190Georgia Tech

Smooth shooting big wing.
109Nik Garcia
Niles (IL) Niles West
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Wiry wing who can fill it up.
110Glenn Bryant
Mouth of Wilson (VA) Oak Hill Academy
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Bouncy forward with developing skill game.
111Joe Burton
Hemet (CA) West Valley
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Large post player who is big on production.
112Kawhi Leonard
Riverside (CA) Martin Luther King
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Athletic small forward who contributes in a number of ways.
113Sherrod Wright
Mount Vernon (NY) Mount Vernon
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Physical and productive player.
114Andrew Fitzgerald
Baltimore (MD) Owings Mills
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Athletic big man who excels on the boards.
115Givon Crump
Wolfeboro (NH) Brewster Academy
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Smooth shooting wing with size.
116Derrick Nix
Detroit (MI) Pershing
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C6-9/275Michigan State

Big-bodied post with good feet and hands.
117Anthony Stover
La Canada (CA) Renaissance Academy
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Athletic big man with a high ceiling
118DaShonte Riley
Birmingham (MI) Country Day
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C6-10/217Georgetown

A lengthy post presence.
119Chris Colvin
Chicago (IL) Whitney Young
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Physical point guard who can drive it and shoot it.
120Chris Brew
Berkeley (CA) St. Mary's
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G6-3/180UC Santa Barbara

Dynamic combo guard who gets to the basket.
121Tyler Honeycutt
Sylmar (CA) Sylmar
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Slender forward with a high skill level.
122Ray Turner
Houston (TX) Jesse Jones
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Strong athlete specializing in energy plays.
123Kyle Hardrick
Norman (OK)
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F6-7/233Oklahoma

Power player who is developing his skill game.
124Kammeon Holsey
Sparta (GA) Hancock Central
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Versatile combo forward.
125Mike Bruesewitz
Mendota Heights (MN) Sibley
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F6-6/190Wisconsin

Skilled big man in the Wisconsin mode.
126Terrance Shannon
Forsyth (GA) Mary Persons
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Athletic forward with a great motor.
127Donnovan Kirk
Detroit (MI) Country Day
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F6-7/210Miami

Aggressive and athletic forward.
128Dan Jennings
Mouth of Wilson (VA) Oak Hill Academy
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Big man who can control the paint.
129Carl Jones
Garfield Heights (OH) Garfield Heights
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Ultra-quick guard who puts up numbers.
130Sam Dower
Osseo (MN) Osseo
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Long and athletic forward.
131Patrick Bade
Indianapolis (IN) Franklin Central
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F6-8/225Purdue

Strong bodied forward with face up game.
132Kyryl Natyazhko
Bradenton (FL) Pendleton (IMG Academy)
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Physical post with touch from the outside.
133Stephan Van Treese
Indianapolis (IN) Lawrence North
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True post player with bouncy springs and good hands.
134Dalton Pepper
Fairless Hills (PA) Pennsbury
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Heady guard with size.
135C.J. Harris
Winston-Salem (NC) Mount Tabor
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G6-2/175Wake Forest

Heady point guard with feel
136Omari Lawrence
South Kent (CT) South Kent
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A left handed slasher.
137Tamir Jackson
Newark (NJ) St. Benedict's HS
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G6-2/165UAB

Crafty guard with a knack for scoring.
138Tyler Griffey
Ballwin (MO) Lafayette High
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F6-8/210Illinois

Blue collar forward who plays with toughness.
139Khris Middleton
Charleston (SC) Porter Gaud School
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F6-7/205Texas A&M

Sharp shooter with length and solid skill game.
140Clarence Trent
Henderson (NV) Findlay Prep
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Undersized forward with exceptional athleticism.
141Kelsey Barlow
Indianapolis (IN) Cathedral
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F6-6/185Purdue

Versatile wing who guards well.
142Naji Hibbert
Hyattsville (MD) DeMatha
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G6-6/195Texas A&M

Hard-nosed shooting guard can score from the wing.
143A.J. Walton
Little Rock (AR) Hall High School
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Solid floor general with all around game.
144Maurice Creek
South Kent (CT) South Kent
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G6-5/195Indiana

Another high-major guard from loaded D.C. area.
145Fred Gulley
Fayetteville (AR) Fayetteville
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G6-2/180Oklahoma State

Wiry guard who is quick from end to end.
146James Still
Detroit (MI) Detroit Community
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C6-8/205list

Developing post player with upside.
147Jack Cooley
Glenview (IL) Glenbrook South
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F6-8/210Notre Dame

Strong post player who likes to mix it up.
148Isaiah Philmore
Bel Air (MD) John Carroll
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Energetic player who is effective around the basket.
149Chase Tapley
Sacramento (CA) Sacramento
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G6-2/184list

Solid guard with a well rounded game.
150Scott Wood
Marion (IN) Marion
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G6-6/170N.C. State

Highly skilled wing player.


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b

FEATURED PRODUCT

Hollis Thompson and Leslie McDonald should be in the 20's, not the 50's
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I wonder how the hell Naji Hibbert goes from being ranked in the top 40-50 last fall to falling all the way to 142 this summer...is that even possible?
 
I refuse to believe there are 40 players in the country better than Nolan Dennis...
 
July 2, 2008
[h1]USA U18 trials: session one[/h1]
Jerry Meyer
Rivals.com Basketball Recruiting Analyst

Talk about it in Basketball Recruiting Board
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The USA Basketball U18 National Team Trials got under way Tuesday evening at the Washington Wizards practice facilityin the Verizon Center. A mix of incoming college freshmen and 2009 prospects took the court, and Dominic Cheek made a statement as the top wing player during the firstsession.

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Cheek is an impressive wing prospect.
With the players divided into three teams of six, Cheek scored 17 points during approximately 20 minutes of running time. He knockeddown three 3-pointers, was productive on the offensive boards and passed the ball extremely well. Presently ranked No. 11 in the Rivals150, Cheek is puttingsome heavy pressure on the prospects just ahead of him in the top 10.

While Cheek was the top performer from the wing, Ryan Kelly stood out amongst the post players. He didn't take manyshots, but the few shots he did take found the bottom of the net. Along with his confident and precise shooting, Kelly delivered a number of assists from thehigh post as a perfect complement to grinding low post player JaMychal Green. Green scored seven points and had the most physicalpresence on the blocks.

Yet to make a college decision, Kelly's school list still stands at nine schools - Georgetown, North Carolina, North Carolina State, Notre Dame, Stanford,Vanderbilt, Virginia, Wake Forest and Davidson. Kelly, the No. 17 ranked prospect in the Rivals150 has unofficial visited all nine schools and noted afterpractice that he felt all nine could be a good fit for him. The plan at this point is to trim the list to five schools at the end of July in preparation forofficial visits in the fall.

In other recruiting news from the trials, Ari Stewart is closely considering Oregon, Wake Forest, Xavier, Miami,Virginia and South Florida. His top desire is to play for a program with an up-tempo style of play. With head coach Bob McKillop of Davidson emphasizing a faststyle of play during the practice, the athletic Stewart had his moments running the court and hitting the offensive glass. All six of his points during thescrimmage came at the rim.

Here is a quick rundown on the other players trying out for the USA U18 National Team:

Kemba Walker (Connecticut)- Establishedhimself as the top point guard on the court with his aggressive and physical play. He got into the lane with regularity, displayed top-notch leadershipqualities and knocked down a couple 3-pointers for his six points in the scrimmage.

Maalik Wayns (Villanova commitment)-Wayns matched up well with Walker, and in a sense is the Walker of the 2009 class. He has terrific strength with the basketball and has a burst of speed. Hepassed the ball well but didn't score during the scrimmage.

Malcolm Lee (UCLA)- Lee scored fourpoints before suffering an injury during the late stages of the scrimmage. With only two true point guards trying out for the team, Lee ran the point for thethird team. More suited for the shooting guard position, Lee didn't assert himself much by penetrating from the point guard position, but did finish withfour points.

Lance Stephenson- Simply put, Stephensonhad a tough day at the office. He couldn't get his shot to fall, managing only two points, didn't assert himself on the boards and turned the ball overat an alarming rate. Perhaps just trying to do too much, Stephenson played at a frenetic speed that just wasn't meshing with his teammates. He clearly wasfrustrated.

Travis Releford (Kansas)- Aggressivelylooking to penetrate and get his shot, Releford scored 10 points in the scrimmage. He was one of the top guards during the session, and he did a nice jobbalancing his aggressiveness within the structure of team play. Expect Releford to be a productive and stabilizing force for Kansas next year with his maturegame.

Hollis Thompson (Georgetown commitment)-Thompson struggled at times with the physical play. He finished with two points in the scrimmage.

Matthew Humphrey (Oregon)- Humphreystood out as an outside scoring threat, knocking down two 3-pointers and finishing with eight points.

Leslie McDonald (North Carolinacommitment)- McDonald looked good in transition by both unselfishly passing the ball up the court and running the floor on the wing, getting his six points atthe basket in transition.

Wesley Witherspoon (Memphis)-Witherspoon struggled shooting the ball from the field, but did manage four points from the free-throw line.

Reeves Nelson (UCLA commitment)- Afterseeing Nelson for the first time this spring/summer, it appears that he might just be getting too strong. He was very good on the defensive glass, butstruggled to muster up anything offensively. He did get one baseline dunk for his two points.

Mason Plumlee (Duke commitment)- Plumleewas quite active around the basket. He gave opposing players difficulty with his size (he was the tallest player on the court). Plumlee rebounded the ballwell, showed savvy passing the ball and scored six points.

Kenny Hall (Tennessee commitment)- Hallcompeted with energy on the boards and did a nice job finishing at the rim for eight points.

David Wear (North Carolina commitment)-Wear played with energy but only managed one bucket ,which came from behind the arc.

Travis Wear (North Carolina commitment)-Wear had moments where he stood out running the court. He had a scoring flurry of eight points late in the scrimmage.
 
Ahh so thats what's going on...I was wondering why there was a bunch of young tall dudes around when i went to lunch
 
Originally Posted by allen3xis

Isiah Armwood to Villanova.

Really nice pick up.

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The only question is whether he is a 3 or a 4 but knowing Wright unless ur 6"4 or below then your a center on the team...
 
Originally Posted by MessiahChild

Originally Posted by allen3xis

Isiah Armwood to Villanova.

Really nice pick up.

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The only question is whether he is a 3 or a 4 but knowing Wright unless ur 6"4 or below then your a center on the team...

Yeah I think he's a college 4, esp under Wright.

Dom Cheek automatically is a better player than any rating he's given just based off playing at St. A's and for Hurley.

...

I really enjoyed this article..


The moment is freeze-framed in YouTube glory. As the last notes of "One Shining Moment" fade, Juan Dixon hurls his 6-foot-3 frame at Byron Mouton, tackling his teammate in a powerfulembrace.

It is at once Maryland's shining moment and fading glory, the year everything came together for the Terrapins and everything stopped progressing.Maryland won that national championship in 2002 on Dixon's moxie, Mouton's selflessness, Lonny Baxter's bulk and Gary Williams' ability to turn a bunch of less-heraldedrecruits into champions.

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Jamie Squire/Getty Images

Juan Dixon's One Shining Moment in 2002 is a distant memory for a Terps program that has struggled since then.

From that high, there is no place to go but down. The lure of the NBA, coupled with the fickle whims of teenagers, makes college basketball dynasties harderto come by than $2 gas.

But Maryland's slide down the ladder toward irrelevancy appears to have hit its most critical step. The Terps have made one NCAA tournament appearancein four years and have become the sort of once-in-a-season highlight team (see: upset of North Carolina, 2008; win at Duke, 2007) that feeds at the bottom ofthe ACC.

Williams, once lauded for resurrecting Maryland from the depths of NCAA probation, now enters his 20th season dogged by questions about himself, his programand his status with the university administration.

"Is this a big year? Absolutely," said Kent Greenway, coach of the Richmond Squires AAU team, a power in the D.C.-Baltimore-Virginia hub."People are questioning how good of a coach Gary is, how good of a job the team is doing recruiting and whether the AD wants [Williams] out. This is avery, very important year."

Yet, in a season with conceivably so much on the line, Maryland starts with only 10 scholarship players. Shane Walker transferred, would-be recruit Tyree Evans never got past the administrative smell test and heraldedrookie-to-be Gus Gilchrist elected to transfer to South Florida, wherehe hopes an appeal will restore a year of eligibility.

That leaves the Terps with a frontcourt that averaged 4.4 points and 4.0 rebounds last season in a league that has a stacked North Carolina roster, a hungryDuke team and a blossoming Miami program.

Worse than what Maryland has on its roster -- what some contend is unmined talent that could be better than other people think -- is the lack of juice thestate university has in a region where talent is ripe for the picking.

In the past two years, the Maryland area has produced three top-five NBA draft picks -- Texas' Kevin Durant went second and Georgetown's Jeff Green fifth in 2007, and Kansas State's Michael Beasley went No. 2 just this past Thursday. Mix in Carmelo Anthony in 2003, and you get an idea of just how deep the talent pool is aroundCollege Park.

"There's no reason they're not getting some of these guys," said Curtis Malone, co-founder of the powerful D.C. Assault AAU team."It's a great campus, a great facility, great conference. Gary is a good coach. There's so much talent in the Baltimore-D.C. area, they should begetting more kids to stay home. I can't put my finger on it."
***​
Gary Williams is understandably defensive. His program has been dragged through the blog cesspool, skewered, poked and dissected. The requisitefiregarywilliams.com already is up and running.
And unlike most coaches, Williams admits he's bothered by the criticism.

"Whoever says it doesn't bother them is lying," he said. "It's human nature. You want people to say nice things about you."

But there isn't exactly generosity of spirit where the Terps and Williams are concerned these days. Fans see a revolving door spinning talented peopleout and not-so-talented players in; they see a resurgent Georgetown team rising from the ashes to make the Final Four while the Maryland team tries to simplymake the NCAA tournament.

As Williams points out, the Hoyas have been hit by their own player turnover -- Jeremiah Rivers transferred to Indiana and Vernon Macklin to Florida -- but an exodus of players loses its sting when there's afairly fresh Final Four banner hanging in the rafters.

The messy trails left by Maryland's two most public deserters make its situation even less palatable.

Tyree Evans, a high-scoring guard who scored the third-most points in one season in Virginia prep history, would have been a junior next season. The23-year-old, who spent time at a prep school and two junior colleges, signed a letter of intent with Maryland in April, but athletic director Debbie Yow saidthat, at the time, she didn't know Evans had served jail time (he pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of possession of marijuana with intent todistribute and spent two weeks in jail in 2007).

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Baltimore-native Sean Mosley is Maryland's only incoming recruit.

As a debate raged over whether Evans was worth the publicity risk, he asked to be released from his letter of intent, and Maryland agreed.

"The admission of any student with a criminal record is determined by two entities outside of the department of athletics -- the university admissionsoffice and the office of student conduct," said Yow, who responded to ESPN.com's questions via e-mail.

Williams' decision to take a chance on Evans -- who was charged for a marijuana possession (2005) and indecent assault of a person over 14 (he pleadedguilty to misdemeanor assault and battery in 2006) in his background -- reeked of an act of desperation by a man who needed to get back to the NCAA tournament.The fizzling finish only fueled the flames of rumor that there is a power struggle between Williams and Yow.

Neither Williams nor Yow admits to any animosity toward the other, but in area hoops circles, there is a growing sense the relationship is a slow burn in adry forest.

"This is from what I hear, not what I've seen, but people think they don't like each other," said Greenway, who is admittedly disappointedthat Maryland didn't give Evans a chance. "People think Miss Yow is trying to submarine the program."

"Coach Williams and I have worked together for 14 years," Yow said in an e-mail response. "I appreciate all he has done to elevate theprogram. We meet routinely, as do ADs and their head coaches, and I find our meetings to be positive and productive."

Just as the Evans firestorm died down, the Gus Gilchrist fiasco came to a head. A heralded 6-9 center, Gilchrist transferred from Virginia Tech to Marylandafter the 2007 shootings on the Blacksburg, Va., campus left him craving a college closer to home.

ACC rules, however, require players who transfer within the league to sit out a full calendar year. Gilchrist would have been eligible to play two and ahalf years at Maryland, beginning in December.

Maryland twice appealed to the ACC on Gilchrist's behalf but was denied both times. Gilchrist asked to be released from his scholarship and last monthsigned with South Florida. He still will have to appeal his transfer in order to play immediately, but he will have four years of eligibility whenever heresumes his career.

"Originally, he thought he was going to be one of those guys going to the NBA right away," Williams said. "But then he played against ourguys, and he realized he needed the full amount of time to play, so he decided to transfer."

The kicker in all this is that the Terps were ready to give former Oklahoma guard Bobby Maze a scholarship. Maze, who spent a year in junior college, verballycommitted to the Terps, but Maryland rescinded its offer (reason unknown) in April.

Maze signed with Tennessee and, in a freestyle rap currently burning up the Maryland message boards, opines, "This thing is not a game/Who am I toblame/Maryland never change."

Barring late summer additions, Sean Mosley -- whose academic statuswas tenuous but is now expected to qualify, according to the Baltimore Sun -- will be the lone member of Maryland's freshman class.
***​
It's more than just the players who are leaving. That can be explained to an extent. It's also the players who aren't coming at all thatraises eyebrows.
Gary Williams argues that it is becoming increasingly difficult to keep kids at home. Between the parents who justifiably want their kids away from eitherthe mean streets or the hangers-on from their hometowns and the kids whose worlds have been opened by AAU tournaments, hometown ties are almostmeaningless.

"Durant wasn't staying home; neither was Beasley," Williams said. "We didn't get them. Neither did 336 other schools."

But forget Beasley and Durant, two gems who literally had their pick of the country.

What about Ty Lawson (North Carolina) and Nolan Smith (Duke)? Chris Wright (Georgetown) and Donte Greene (Syracuse)? Dante Cunningham (Villanova) and Jeff Allen (Virginia Tech)? Or the 25 DC Assault alums who, according to its Web site, playedcollege ball last season? None played for Maryland.

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AP Photo/Gerry Broome

Maryland's upset of unbeaten, No. 1-ranked North Carolina in January was the Terps' highlight of the season.

"You're the state school; you're expected to get the local kid," Kent Greenway said. "I know that's more difficult now, butthat's the expectation."

At its peak, Maryland had a coaching staff almost as seasoned as Joe Paterno's. Billy Hahn served as an assistant for 12 years, Jimmy Patsos for 13.Strong in their own minds and opinions, they knew how to handle Williams, whose hot temper and demanding personality are legendary.

Hahn left for a head coaching job at La Salle in 2001, Patsos for Loyola in 2005. Since then, Maryland's coaching door has spun almost as wildly as itsplayers' entrance. Former WNBA head coach Michael Adams joined the staff in 2004 and two games into the 2007-08 season, abruptly resigned to spend moretime with his family. One-time Charlotte 49ers assistant Rob Moxley came to College Park in 2004, only to return to Charlotte two years later for an associatehead coaching position.

Former Terp Keith Booth is in his fifth season at College Park, Chuck Driesell his third.

"You get new assistants, it takes time to develop relationships with recruits and rebuild that," Williams said. "So I can see where thatprobably hurt us, but I like where we are now."

Unable to resist the zinger -- "We haven't gotten any eighth-graders yet, I'll admit" -- Williams said he feels good about the inroads hisstaff has made with players for 2009-10, and people in and around the state say Williams' staff is working.

The problem, observers say, is that the Maryland assistants are trying to close deals on their own. They point to coaches like John Calipari, who reliedheavily on former assistant Derek Kellogg (now at Massachusetts) but who also ran up his own frequent-flier miles between Memphis and Philadelphia to securethe services of Tyreke Evans.

And they wonder whether Williams, 20 years into it, still has the stomach for the game.

"What Gary has done with that program … let's face it, they were very bad," said Greene's high school coach, Josh Pratt, who quickly addedthat he believes the feisty Williams is one to be reckoned with. "What he's done is phenomenal. People are very appreciative of that, but there areyoung coaches who are like Gary was 10 years ago. They're hungry, and they want to prove themselves."
***​
Maryland went 19-15 in 2007-08. The Terps sold out all of their home games and finished tied for fifth in their conference. Senior James Gist, an unheralded player out of high school, just joined the San Antonio Spurs as asecond-round pick.
Nothing to be ashamed of there.

But there are statistics, and then there are statistics, and in college basketball, one matters most: NCAA tournament appearances. Maryland has been threetimes since that national title but hasn't managed to get out of the first weekend since 2003.

In the IM world of teenagers, in which responses and gratification are instantaneous, that's a lifetime.

"Kids have short memories," Malone said. "That championship was six years ago. Most kids, they don't even remember it."

The shining moment is becoming a fading memory.
Dana O'Neil covers college basketball fo
 
July 3, 2008
[h1]USA U18 trials: session three[/h1]
Jerry Meyer
Rivals.com Basketball Recruiting Analyst

Talk about it in Basketball Recruiting Board
WASHINGTON, D.C.- It took Lance Stephenson a little while to get untracked at the USA Basketball U18 National Team Trials, but by the third session Stephenson found his stride.

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Stephenson is excited about representing the USA.
Implementing more of a streamlined physical approach to the game, Stephenson was simply the dominant force on the court Wednesday night. He bullied defenders with slashing drives to the basket and crashed the boards for rebounds. With less dribbles he made more positive things happen for his scrimmage squad, and in the process found the touch on his jumper.

Stephenson was the first to admit that he had to go through an adjustment period.

"I'm trying to get used to not getting the ball like I'm used to getting it," said Stephenson. "Now when I get the ball I'm trying to finish the play quicker."

He also rejected recent talk that he might take some other route than attending college after next year.

"I'm more focused on school and getting an education. I'm more about learning new stuff and then go to the NBA. Skipping college and going to Europe is something you think about as a last resort when your messing up in school, but I'm doing well in school."

St. John's, Texas, North Carolina and Duke are still in the running to land Stephenson, but three other schools standout at the top of his list.

"Kansas, Memphis and Tennessee, those are the three schools I'm looking at really hard," said Stephenson, who is planning to wait until the spring before committing to a college.

With the trials, practices and then the World Games in Argentina conflicting with the shoe company camps, many prospects declined invitations to play for USA Basketball. Stephenson, however, is hungry for a new experience and excited about playing for his country.

"I'm more about helping the United States," he said. "I'm not about sneakers or the latest Lebron camp jersey. I've already done the Lebron camp and the other camps, so this is a new experience for me."

One of the other uncommitted participants in the USA U18 trials is Dominic Cheek. Like Stephenson, Cheek is far from ready to make a decision about where he will play college basketball.

"I don't really have a school list because new schools keep coming in," said Cheek. "After this, I'll narrow things down to something like ten schools."

Cheek did note, however, that Villanova and Tennessee are recruiting him the hardest. He also revealed the two most important factors for him in choosing a school.

"I want to go to a school that has a chance to win the national championship and play for a coach who can get me to the next level," he said.

Notes from session three

It looks like the players are beginning to adjust to the international basketball which is a tad bit bigger than an American basketball and much slicker.

Mason Plumlee made a statement in session two with his shot blocking ability, and in session three he was all over the offensive glass demonstrating an ability to rebound outside of his area.

Leslie McDonald has had success finishing at the rim in transition throughout the trials, but he struggled defensively on Wednesday, giving up a number of drives to the basket.

Dominic Cheek has a gift for getting the ball in the basket, but like McDonald, his defense has been sub par.

Continuing with the defensive theme, Ryan Kelly is a nightmare to defend with his array of offensive moves, but he will have to bulk up before he gets to college in order to successfully defend in the low post.

On the other hand, point guards Kemba Walker and Maalik Wayns have impressed with their ability to pressure the basketball.

Travis Releford is a college ready guard with his physical strength and basketball IQ. He defends, rebounds, takes care of the basketball and knows when to take the ball to the basket.
 
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